CHAPTER SIX;
i’ve never had a shoulder to cry on
â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”
There’s a fleeting moment of calm as the wind gusts wildly around you, carrying the scent of burnt rubber and faint cologne, clashing with the usual city smells. For a moment, it even overpowers the sharp, wild pheromones that hung in the air moments before. The screech of tires still echoes in your ears, cutting through the distant noise of flashing cameras.
…Cameras?
You quickly glance to the side.
A group of girls nearby are screaming in joy, some nervously laughing as they snap pictures of the gorgeous man who had nearly killed you moments ago with his fancy car-a car you’d love to key right now, just to put a tiny dent in Enver’s wallet.
“Oh my gods, it’s actually him! It’s Enver Albrecht! Do you think he’ll let us take a picture with him?!” someone shouts, their excitement palpable, their voice carrying far enough for you to hear. “Gosh, he’s just so hot!”
Great. As if you needed a reminder, the world seems determined to point out that the man in front of you is not only hot, annoying, and evil-but also very, very popular. A combo as amazing as it is infuriating. But hey, is that really going to stop you from wanting to punch this guy in the face for almost killing you and calling you a dog?
.
.
.
Fuck yes, it will!
The last thing you need is his crazed fans showing up at your door with knives and all that madness-you don’t even have Louis’s fighting skills. If you’re ever going to beat Enver up, it’ll be in private, like a real man.
Anyways.
You dust yourself off as Enver’s smirk slowly fades, replaced by his usual disinterested expression. It’s incredibly annoying to look at, and you really, really want to wipe it off his face like a windshield wiper.
“Enver Albrecht,” you say his full name aloud, gazing at him with what you hope are some very sinister-looking eyes-’cause your heart is still pounding like crazy from having almost died. Again.
At the mention of his name, Enver barely reacts, giving you the faintest raise of his brow-an expression that practically screams, What is it, peasant? without a single word.
This asshole.
Locking eyes with him, you take a deep breath, puffing out your chest with a look of pure determination.
Enver gives you a quizzical look, and you finally open your mouth to reply-
“I hope you get your driver’s license revoked. I hope you stub your toe on everything you see. I hope you go bald by the time you’re thirty. I hope you always cut your nails too short, every single time. I hope every inch of your pillow is warm whenever you try to sleep. And,” you shout louder, “I hope dogs piss on your shoes every time they smell you coming!”
Enver blinks.
Silence. Absolute silence.
He blinks again, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, like he’s searching for words that just won’t come. A breeze passes between you, as if carrying the word “idiot” straight into your ears. Was that… the universe speaking?
God, you really hope no one’s recording this. You can hear Louis facepalm behind you, the sound loud and unmistakable.
“An overwhelming amount of useless insults I could do without,” Enver finally replies, breaking the painfully long silence you’d rather ignore. His voice is low and cold, as if he’s disgusted by your mere presence.
“Did you get yourself drunk again? Because if you did, I will be calling security this time before you can get your filthy hands on my face.”
Right. Because the last time Louis and Enver crossed paths, during Neil’s birthday party when Jude reminded you that Louis had insulted him, Enver… got the shortest end of the stick. The redhead in front of you ended up with a bruised face and a few missing strands of hair, thanks to Louis’s outburst.
“I’m not drunk. I’m just angry that someone nearly hit me with their car because they can’t drive,” you respond, your voice steady, though the frustration still simmers beneath the surface.
Enver lets out a loud scoff, his hair bouncing slightly with the motion. “You deserved it, especially looking as ridiculous as you did that day with such a… mundane attire. Now move. You’re wasting my time. I have a meeting with Neil, and I don’t need creatures like you around during my time with him.”
Wow. This guy is really asking for a beating now, isn’t he? No wonder he managed to piss off Louis.
Still, his mention of Neil though. That confirms that Mr. Protagonist is still in the building, which means you’ll definitely have a chance to meet with him today and activate the system. Finally some good fucking luck around here!
You can hardly wait to finally get the system actually up and running.
As Enver walks away with his usual air of superiority, beside you, Louis is already rattling off a string of profanities that would make any mother gasp and faint on the spot.
“That pompous, despicable asshole. I swear, I’m going to fucking kill that nasty piece of shit!”
Looks like Louis’s more upset about this than you are. Then again, you suppose even he couldn’t escape feeling insulted after that exchange.
“Now, now. Let’s just calm down for a moment-“
“Shut up!”
“Okay…”
At your response, Louis swiftly regains his composure and lets out a deep, disappointed sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to ease a headache that you somehow caused just by existing. Do ghosts even get headaches?
“You really need to grow some backbone, [Name]. If you keep letting people walk all over you like this, you’re going to get hurt-or worse, die one day,” he says.
“Okay, that’s rich coming from you. Louis, you do remember that you’re the one who tried to beat me up on sight, right? And you were enjoying it (like a maniac) too… until you fell through the floor that is.”
“Yeah?! Well I did that with good fucking reason! What was his reason, huh?! He’s just being a bitch for the hell of it,” Louis yells, pointing angrily at Enver’s retreating figure.
Oh shit. You gotta catch up before Enver disappears.
“Are you even listening to me?!”
You groan in response, to which Louis returns with a very harsh glare.
“Ugh, can we please talk about this later? Come on, or we’ll lose track of where Neil is,” you say, your voice low to make sure no passerby thinks you’re a lunatic in secret.
Louis clicks his tongue in frustration, but relents in the end anyway.
As you and Louis carefully step into the phallic-shaped building, you spot Enver already waiting for the elevator, tapping his foot impatiently with a small frown on his pretty face.
You quietly approach and stand right behind him, ready to wait with patience and-hopefully-some peaceful silence.
“Stop following me, you mutt.”
So much for beautiful silence. You really want to punch this jerk in the face.
“I’m not following you,” you retort with confidence, crossing your arms. “I’m just waiting for the elevator too. Not my fault we have the same destination in mind.”
Enver completely disregards your words, his gaze still fixed on the elevator. “And don’t stand so close to me. You reek.”
What the hell? Does this guy get off on insulting you or something?
“Well, you smell worse with that nasty burnt stench clinging to you!” you snap back.
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he replies smoothly, fully aware of what you mean.
“Ugh. Whatever.”
Enver glances at you briefly, his striking teal eyes revealed as he removes his dark-tinted sunglasses. “You don’t seem like your usual self today. Did you get hit on the head on the way here? Some accident that damaged your already empty brain?”
You shoot him an unamused glance, your patience wearing thin. Beside you, Louis seems ready to intervene, glaring at Enver as though he could strangle him by gaze alone. “This guy’s lucky I can’t punch him again,” Louis mutters, his voice thick with frustration.
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response,” you answer, trying to focus on keeping your cool. Louis shoots you an approving look, as though resisting the urge to punch Enver is an extremely monumental achievement.
It kind of is in a way.
Just on cue, the elevator arrives with a soft ding, and the two of you-well, three, but let’s skip the reminders-step inside, watching as the doors slide shut.
Enver presses the button for the seventh floor.
While you press on… nothing.
“It’s obvious you’re following me.”
“I’m really not.”
You absolutely are.
Enver stares at you silently, which is unnerving, and then he asks, “Do you think me a fool, [Name]?”
You nod. “Oh absolutely.”
Enver’s hand slams against the elevator’s wall behind you, and you blink rapidly, raising an eyebrow-quite highly, in fact-at Enver’s face, now suddenly way too close.
What is it with alphas and their need for up-close intimidation? Seriously, you need some personal space from these ridiculously handsome people, please!
“What do you think you’re doing?” you ask, desperately clinging to your calm demeanor, even as the soothing elevator music plays softly in the background. Meanwhile, your mind can’t help but notice just how long his eyelashes are up close.
“I was right,” Enver says, and with your skeptical look, he continues, “You really do reek.”
“I’ll have you know that I take hygiene very seriously, Enver.”
“I wasn’t talking about any of that.”
“Then what-“
Enver’s sharp pheromones envelop you once more, making each of your breath increasingly difficult. That burning stench chokes the very air around you, and you can’t help but narrow your gaze as Enver’s own eyes darken, his nose twitching as if detecting something out of place, something wrong-and it’s coming from you.
You find yourself frozen as his mouth comes dangerously close to your ear. His voice drops to a low, intense murmur.
“You reek of that doctor.”
A shiver runs down your spine. You try to steady your breath, but the burning stench of his pheromones makes it nearly impossible.
“What are you talking about?” you manage to ask, your voice trembling slightly despite your effort to sound composed.
“Don’t play dumb. I can smell him on you. That doctor, Jude. His scent is all over you.”
Your mind races, trying to piece together why Enver is so fixated on Jude’s scent. Any trace of Jude’s presence should have dissipated by now. Sure, you haven’t showered, but still-it’s been hours!
“You two… you’re both planning something, aren’t you?”
So, he’s suspicious of you? That’s just the icing on the cake now, isn’t it?
You avert your gaze, gritting your teeth, your eyes fixed on the glowing numbers above the elevator door as they slowly count up to the seventh floor.
Why is this elevator ride taking such a long time!?
“…Even if Jude and I did meet, it’s really none of your business, is it?”
“Shut up and answer the question.”
“But how can I shut up and answer your question at the same time?”
“You’re being difficult.”
“Good.” The elevator chimes, signaling your arrival at the floor, and the doors slide open. “Because I’m about to make things more difficult for you.”
Enver’s eyes flicker with something-perhaps irritation or curiosity-but it doesn’t matter because it quickly turns to disbelief as you suddenly drive your knee to a slam into his groin. Hard. Without a shred of mercy.
“[Name]-! You piece of shit!” Enver shouts, collapsing to the floor, his voice a jarring departure from the polished tone he’s upheld all day. It’s a satisfying act of retribution. A smirk tugs at your lips.
But you’re not finished.
With deliberate speed, you press every button on the elevator panel, watching as Enver’s stunned expression grows more incredulous. As you make your exit, you give a casual wave goodbye to the fallen redhead. One point for you, and one point subtracted from Enver.
“Get back here right now!” Enver’s voice echoes as the elevator doors begin to close.
You couldn’t resist taking one last jab at him. With a soft giggle, you tease, “What was that? I can’t quite hear you. I think the doors are closing~!”
“Damn you!”
With a final, mocking wave, you watch as the doors seal shut. “Bye-bye!”
You watch with Louis as the elevator ascends to the next floor. You wonder how long Enver will be stuck, given that you’ve pressed all forty floors simultaneously. Hehe.
“That was kind of low, even for you,” Louis remarks, but then he offers an approving nod. “Still, I have to admit, just this once, I approve of your underhanded method.”
“Hell yeah!”
You give Louis a thumbs up, and together you both head off to meet Neil.
â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”â”
!! author’s note !!
bit of a short chapter since college is kicking my ass quite precisely this week, so your meeting with neil is postponed for this chapter hehe. you’ll meet him next chapter I promise!!! and now that I’m finished with this, I’m off to write some sanguine lullabies and mythical devotion. hope to see u there as well <33
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